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Monday, August 3, 2015

I have WAAAY too many books on my TBR pile (both physical and on my kindle). In fact, it's out of control. So, this post is going to become a monthly thing. You can check out my first post here.

Here's how it works:
At the end of every month, I am going to tell you how many books are on my TBR, how many I have added, how many I have deducted (either by reading or giving away), and my new total number of books on my TBR. This is supposed to help me keep this in check. We will see how it goes. (By the way-- this is only books that I own. They can be physical copies or on my kindle, but this does not include all the books on my goodreads list that I want to read. Just what I already own or have received for review).

In my first post I told you that I had 364 books on my TBR. Last month it went up to 381 books. Since then I have added 0 more books. So, now we still have a total of 381. And I have read 3 books. Which leaves us with an updated total of 378 books!

The number is still higher than I started with unfortunately, but it is decreasing!!

How many books do you have on your TBR? How do you keep track and keep things under control? I would love to know your secrets!

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Goodreads Summary:
A gritty but hopeful love story about two struggling teens—
great for fans of The Spectacular Now, Willow, and Eleanor and Park

Tyler has a football scholarship to Stanford, a hot girlfriend, and a reliable army of friends to party with. Then his mom kills herself. And Tyler lets it all go. Now he needs to dodge what his dad is offering (verbal tirades and abuse) and earn what his dad isn’t (money). Tyler finds a job that crashes him into Jordyn, his former childhood friend turned angry-loner goth-girl. She brings Tyler an unexpected reprieve from the never-ending pity party his life has become. How could he not fall for her? But with his dad more brutally unpredictable than ever, Tyler knows he can’t risk bringing Jordyn too deeply into the chaos. So when violence rocks his world again, will it be Jordyn who shows him the way to a hopeful future? Or after everything, will Tyler have to find it in himself?

Monday, July 27, 2015

Goodreads Summary:
Author Jen Malone draws on her real-life experiences as a movie studio publicist to bring you an insider peek at love, Hollywood-style.

The California dream was supposed to give seventeen-year-old Annie Shelton a fresh start far removed from her dad’s unusual betrayal. But when things don’t go according to plan in La La Land, Annie’s mom snags a last-minute gig as makeup artist to a teen movie idol and finagles a spot for her daughter on his European promotional tour.

Down-to-earth Annie would rather fangirl architectural sights than an arrogant A-lister. That is, until behind-the-scenes Graham Cabot turns out to be more sweetly vulnerable than she could have imagined.

Too bad falling for a poster boy isn’t all red carpets and star treatment, especially when you factor in obnoxious fans, an overprotective assistant, a stage mom/manager, and a beefy bodyguard.

But it isn’t until the paparazzi make an appearance that things get really sticky…

My Review:
At only 241 pages, this is a very quick read. This is a very cute, contemporary, young adult book. I did not want to put this book down. It wasn't suspenseful, in fact it was kind of predictable, but it was just so dang cute. I love cheesy, teen romance stories so this book was right up my ally.

I loved the romance between Graham and Annie. They were so cute together, and I loved all of the little quirks of their relationship. I really liked all of their adventures as well. They were being typical teens, but it was cute to watch their relationship unfold.

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Confessions of a Tinderella by Rosy Edwards
Release Date: August 1, 2015

Goodreads Summary:
The laugh-out-loud true story of one girl's experience of life on Tinder

Rosy Edwards is the epitome of a contradictory 20-something year old. She’s frugal when it comes to food shopping, but is willing to spend £17 on shampoo. She’s career-minded, she just doesn’t know which career to have in mind right now. And although she’s happy being single, a part of her kind of wants a boyfriend. So after a few unsuccessful dates with friends of friends (read: being forced to date their shortest/dullest/oddest acquaintance), she put herself on Tinder, the app that has transformed the world of online dating. And she soon learns the unspoken rules the hard way: always reject a guy with black and white profile pics (he is ginger and/or ugly); is wearing a hat (bald); has a shot of his torso (moron); or is not standing beside anything scaleable (5”8 and under). And then there are the dates themselves. From a 3:30 am dinner date to a borderline drug bust in Chelsea, Rosy has experienced it all, swinging through her love life on the trapeze of Tinder. She falls for the wrong guys, ditches the nice ones, but can she finally find her happy ending? Amazingly honest and hilariously funny, Rosy’s story shows us all that the key to a successful love life could just be a swipe away.

Why I'm Waiting:
This sounds hilarious! I actually met my current boyfriend on Tinder, but I had lots of crazy experiences before I met him. I am sure this book will not disappoint.

Monday, July 13, 2015

Goodreads Summary:
Fans of Sarah Dessen and Huntley Fitzpatrick will enjoy this smart debut young adult novel, equal parts My Life Next Door and The Princess Diaries—plus a dash of Aaron Sorkin.

Kate Quinn’s mom died last year, leaving Kate parentless and reeling. So when the unexpected shows up in her living room, Kate must confront another reality she never thought possible—or thought of at all. Kate does have a father. He’s a powerful politician. And he’s running for U.S. President. Suddenly, Kate’s moving in with a family she never knew she had, joining a campaign in support of a man she hardly knows, and falling for a rebellious boy who may not have the purest motives. This is Kate’s new life. But who is Kate? When what she truly believes flies in the face of the campaign’s talking points, she must decide. Does she turn to the family she barely knows, the boy she knows but doesn’t necessarily trust, or face a third, even scarier option?

Set against a backdrop of politics, family, and first love, this is a story of personal responsibility, complicated romance, and trying to discover who you are even as everyone tells you who you should be.

My Review:
This book reminded me somewhat of Meg Cabot's All-American Girl, and it read just as easily. I'm not going to lie, this book took me a while to get into. After the first several chapters though, I was hooked. I rest the rest of the book in a day. It is a fairly light, contemporary, young adult read. There were some more serious parts of the book, but nothing too serious. I appreciated that. I liked that issues were brought up, but it never made the book feel depressing or emotionally intense. It definitely brought up some political issues, but that was to be expected in a book about running for president.

I enjoyed getting to see a little bit about the behind the scenes aspects of what it is like to run for president. It was even more interesting to get to see this from the perspective of a teenager. It was very exciting, and there was never a dull moment. There were a lot of people involved, and we got a glimpse of what each of them did, and how they were involved in the campaign. We also got to see their character. I think the author did a great job of allowing the reader to see the true character of some of the smallest characters in the book.

The romance between Kate and her love interest is great as well. I could always feel what she was feeling depending on the circumstances at that time. I was excited for her, and then mad for her. I felt all of the emotions right along with her, which made this book a really enjoyable one. There was some drama in this book as well. While some things made me cringe and sit on the edge of my seat, it really kept the pace of the book going. I really enjoyed this book, and would definitely recommend it.

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

After emerging from a loveless marriage, Cat realizes hers is a life half-lived. What's a recently-single woman in the prime of her life to do? Have her first ever one night stand. But her experience leads her to more than just an evening of pleasure. Cat has a revelation: she's sick of being a good girl. It's time for this Cat to take a walk on the wild side.

Cat pledges to try 30 different sexual experiences in the next 30 days, before she turns 30. Her list sends her on a journey that will lead to indescribable pleasures and some risky situations, and Cat will learn more about herself than she ever thought possible. Most unexpected of all, she may even find love.

Do you dare take a peek at her list? Read on …

My Review:
Let me start off by saying that this book is definitely meant for adults. It has a lot of adult content, and it is not a book I would normally read. I usually prefer to post more family friendly things on my blog. However, this is a hilarious book for ADULTS.

This book made me feel every emotion possible. It made me laugh, it made me sad, angry, happy, and "swoony". Kate did a great job with this book. It takes a talented author to get a reader to feel so many emotions without feeling like they are on a roller coaster. I really enjoyed reading this book.

I really liked how you can sense how much these characters love each other throughout the book. They fought it a lot, but you knew that they were meant to be. There were a few obstacles that they had to overcome first, but that kept the book interesting.

All in all, there were definitely some parts of this book that made me feel really uncomfortable. For the most part though, it was an enjoyable read. I would recommend this as an adult beach read.

Monday, July 6, 2015

I have WAAAY too many books on my TBR pile (both physical and on my kindle). In fact, it's out of control. So, this post is going to become a monthly thing. You can check out my first post here.

Here's how it works:
At the end of every month, I am going to tell you how many books are on my TBR, how many I have added, how many I have deducted (either by reading or giving away), and my new total number of books on my TBR. This is supposed to help me keep this in check. We will see how it goes. (By the way-- this is only books that I own. They can be physical copies or on my kindle, but this does not include all the books on my goodreads list that I want to read. Just what I already own or have received for review).

In my first post I told you that I had 364 books on my TBR. Last month it went up to 367 books. Since then I have added 14 more books. So, now we have a total of 381. And I have read 0 books. Which leaves us with an updated total of 381 books!

Not good to see that number going up so much! I need to start reading!!

How many books do you have on your TBR? How do you keep track and keep things under control? I would love to know your secrets!

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Goodreads Summary:
It’s all Ryden’s fault. If he hadn’t gotten Meg pregnant, she would have never stopped her chemo treatments and would still be alive. Instead, he’s failing fatherhood one dirty diaper at a time. And it’s not like he’s had time to grieve while struggling to care for their infant daughter, start his senior year, and earn the soccer scholarship he needs to go to college.
The one person who makes Ryden feel like his old self is Joni. She’s fun and energetic—and doesn’t know he has a baby. But the more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to keep his two worlds separate. Finding one of Meg’s journals only stirs up old emotions, and Ryden’s convinced Meg left other notebooks for him to find, some message to help his new life make sense. But how is he going to have a future if he can’t let go of the past?

Why I'm Waiting:
Wow. This sounds like a very heavy, emotional book. I cannot wait to read it though.

1. Avoid her at school.
2. Keep his mouth shut about what they do together.
3. Never tease her about her friend (and unrequited crush) Ben.

Because with his integrity and values and golden boy looks, Ben can never find out about what she’s been doing behind closed doors with Tyler. Or that her mom’s too busy drinking and chasing losers to pay the bills. Or that Lexi’s dad hasn’t been a part of her life for the last thirteen years. But with Tyler suddenly breaking the rules, Ben asking her out, and her dad back in the picture, how long will she be able to go on faking perfect?

Why I'm Waiting:
This sounds like a good story. I can't wait to read it.

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Goodreads Summary:
When Heather Toulson returns to her parents cottage in the English countryside, she uncovers long-hidden secrets about her family history and stumbles onto the truth about a sixty-year-old murder. Libby, a free spirit who can't be tamed by her parents, finds solace with her neighbor Oliver, the son of Lord Croft of Ladenbrooke Manor. Libby finds herself pregnant and alone when her father kicks her out and Oliver mysteriously drowns in a nearby river. Though theories spread across the English countryside, no one is ever held responsible for Oliver's death.Sixty years later, Heather Toulson, returning to her family's cottage in the shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor, is filled with mixed emotions. She's mourning her father's passing but can't let go of the anger and resentment over their strained relationship. Adding to her confusion, Heather has an uneasy reunion with her first love, all while sorting through her family's belongings left behind in the cottage. As Heather digs, she finds a mysterious journal that belonged to a woman she never knew and it contains clues that lead to the truth about a mysterious drowning decades ago. What she uncovers will change everything she thought she knew about her family's history. Award-winning author Melanie Dobson seamlessly weaves the past and present together, fluidly unraveling the decades-old mystery and reveals how the characters are connected in shocking ways. Set in a charming world of thatched cottages, lush gardens, and lovely summer evenings, this romantic and historical mystery brings to light the secrets and heartaches that have divided a family for generations.

Why I'm Waiting:
This sounds like such a cool story. I like how it's kind of like uncovering a mystery several years later. I think it is also going to be really interesting to see how the two stories intertwine.

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Goodreads Summary:
Fans of John Green's Looking for Alaska as well as Lauren Oliver and Sarah Dessen will embrace this provocative debut novel, an exploration of taboo love set against the backdrop of a suburban high school.

Charlie, a senior, isn't looking forward to her last year of high school. Another year of living in the shadow of her best friend, Lila. Another year of hiding behind the covers of her favorite novels. Another year of navigating her tense relationship with her perfectionist mom.

But everything changes when she meets her new English teacher. Mr. Drummond is smart. Irreverent. Funny. Hot. Everyone loves him. And Charlie thinks he's the only one who gets her.

She also thinks she might not be the only one with a crush.

In this stunning debut, Jessica Alcott explores relationships-and their boundaries-in a way that is both searingly honest and sympathetic.

Why I'm Waiting:
I'm a little iffy about this book. I think there's a way that it could definitely be written well, but it could also be done very poorly. I am interested to see how this book will end up being.

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Bout of books is here, and I can finally participate! It usually falls on a week when I know I won't be able to do anything, but this year it is my one free week! I am hoping this will help me get back into the swing of things and start my summer reading off right.

Edit: I ended up not getting any reading done this week. I thought it was going to be the perfect week for me, but I ended up getting some interviews (yay!!!) in a different city, so I haven't had much time to read. I am also in the process of packing for a trip.

Here's the blurb from the Bout of Books team telling you what it's about:
The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 11th and runs through Sunday, May 17th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 13 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Sunday, May 3, 2015

I have WAAAY too many books on my TBR pile (both physical and on my kindle). In fact, it's out of control. So, this post is going to become a monthly thing. You can check out my first post here.

Here's how it works:
At the end of every month, I am going to tell you how many books are on my TBR, how many I have added, how many I have deducted (either by reading or giving away), and my new total number of books on my TBR. This is supposed to help me keep this in check. We will see how it goes. (By the way-- this is only books that I own. They can be physical copies or on my kindle, but this does not include all the books on my goodreads list that I want to read. Just what I already own or have received for review).

In my first post I told you that I had 364 books on my TBR. Last month I got it down to 363 books. Since then I have added 4 more books. So, now we have a total of 367. But I have read 0 books. Which leaves us with an updated total of 367 books!

Not good to see that number going up! Hopefully I'll be able to get the ball rolling during the summer.

How many books do you have on your TBR? How do you keep track and keep things under control? I would love to know your secrets!

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Goodreads Summary:
When I first met him I resisted.
Like any forbidden love, I told myself he was a crush, and it would pass.
That was a lie. It never faded.

And I never expected he would fall for me just as hard.

There were so many reasons that should have kept us apart, least of all, the decade that separated us. Growing up in New York City, I learned early on that love is a double-edged sword. Love broke up my parents, love took away my friends, and love — the big, intense, never-been-like-this-before love — landed me in therapy. Now I’m heading to college, and it’s time to give love a clean slate again. But, can I really start over when he’s still in my life Because the one man I’ve always wanted, is also the only guy I absolutely can’t have…And he wants me just as fiercely.

Can I settle for anything less than the love of my life?

Why I'm Waiting:
This is very intriguing! I can't wait to get my hands on this book!

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Goodreads Summary:
Kitty dreams of a beautiful life, but that's impossible in suburban London where her family is haunted by her father's unexpected death. So when her mum suggests moving to Amsterdam to try a new life, Kitty doesn't take much persuading. Will this be her opportunity to make her life picture perfect?

In Amsterdam she meets moody, unpredictable Ethan, and clever, troubled Theo. Two enigmatic boys, who each harbour their own secrets. In a beautiful city and far from home, Kitty finds herself falling in love for the first time.

But will love be everything she expected? And will anyone's heart survive?

Why I'm Waiting:
This sounds like a book I would really like! Except for the NOT a love story part. Makes me think it's not going to have a happy ending.